We got our $2 timed parking pass online prior to parking, however, we saw many scanning the QR code…read moreto get one onsite. We arrived at 9:15am on a weekday so the crowds were small and the weather cool and comfortable. We did the Multnomah Wahkeena falls loop which was about 5.5 miles. The trail was well groomed and easy to follow. The two namesake falls were the most stunning but there were many beautiful falls, vegetation, and overlooks along the way. Lots of switchbacks but overall I'd rate the trail medium in difficulty. We ran into a few people along the way but it was not very crowded. The paths to both the falls are paved (but steep). Only one annoying, having-a-fit-kid seen along the way. Ha ha. Felt more sorry for the mom. People were friendly. Great experience.

Such a pretty sight to see! There's a good amount of parking, but it can definitely fill up fast,…read moreso I'd recommend getting here as early in the morning as you can. It's an easy trail to walk through to get to a good view point.

This is supposed to be Portland's oldest public art. Located in an area with lots of nice old…read morebuildings and the start of Portland Saturday Market. The fountain has a sculpture on top it was built to provide water to people and animals so has water at different levels. Now it is just nice to look at surrounded by the arches and Saturday Market. Fun fact: on its first day Henry Winehard wanted the fountain to pump beer. His plan was to use fire hoses, but the city worried people would damage the hoses to get at the beer.

'A beautiful old fountain which the city of Portland hardly deserves? I love this old fountain with…read moreit's antique look and built in 1888 for people to water their horses or so I have read? I just don't like Portland because of what it's become? This city has beautiful architecture but still best viewed in my rearview mirror! ''Thank you''

It's Portland Heritage and History!!! We should always seek out knowledge and what a great place to…read moregain a little history and knowledge. The house is a time capsule it's a little eerie, it's staged as if they went on Holiday and never returned. From the authentic period clothing on mannequins that can also be found in photos, to their Knick-knacks and memorabilia. It's like stepping back to the early 1900's. The house isn't Pittock Mansion Status, but it shows the working family farm life and the docets are very informative and point out little tidbits of history to watch for as you wander the property on a self guided tour. Total time in the house was about 30minutes and another 15 exploring the gardens and farm area. Pretty good activity on a cloudy day we took 2 teens and they found everything interesting. 4 stars because the building is in dire need of repairs.

We visited the house for the Winterville holiday festival. Based on the website, it seems like 2016…read morewas the first year this took place, so it's a new event. Essentially, the event is only for two weekends in December. The house was decorated for the holidays a la Pittock Mansion. In one of the rooms they had amateur string players playing holiday music, and there were a few docents around the house providing historic information on the home. The house itself was decorated with Christmas lights, and they also had a sort of Christmas light garden out front. Outdoors next to the house they had a cute wooden sleigh with a decent Santa. Pictures with Santa (with your personal camera or phone) were included in the admission price. Next to that was a tent with concessions and live holiday music. They had alcoholic beverages for purchase as well as hot chocolate and non alcoholic cider for the kids. While we were there we heard choral music from what looked to be a high school choir. There was a vendor fair as well, but, frankly, it was terrible. Not sure if they normally have more vendors and no one showed up due to concerns over road conditions, but there were like three booths, and the tent was mostly empty. Parking was at the business center across the street, and there were volunteers to safely walk you across the road. Overall, this was a cute little event. The price was a little high for a winter event, in my opinion, but it was pretty reasonable considering the fact that it also included the tour of the historic home as well as all of the Christmas displays.

"The Gateway to the Gorge," Troutdale is near the confluence of the Sandy and Columbia rivers, 17…read moremiles from downtown Portland to the west and 14 miles to iconic Multnomah Falls to the east. if you head south, you are on your way up to Mt. Hood. Troutdale is in the center of it all! Whenever I drive to the Columbia Gorge, which is frequently, I can feel my breathing relax as I pass through Troutdale and the immense beauty of the Columbia River and basalt cliffs of the Gorge immediately unfolds and surrounds me. I'm in my happy place! But there is more to Troutdale than passing through! The quaint town whose first settlers arrived in 1850, still has some of the historical buildings. There are several antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, pubs and coffee shops. The town hosts an art walk on the first Friday from May through September and has several other festivals throughout the year. The tree lighting in December brings all the residents together. Glenn Otto Park, a 6.38 acre park off the East Columbia Highway, is super popular. With riverfront access, the warm months are filled with lots of activities: swimming, rafting, picnicking and walking the trails. There is a playground, a covered picnic area and restrooms. The Sam Cox Great Room and the covered picnic areas can be reserved for parties & picnics. Important to note - no pets or alcohol allowed at the Park. While at the park or in Troutdale, stop at the Sugarpine Drive-In, a popular restaurant and ice cream shop with a drive through and walk up window. The newly opened Troutdale Station is a huge food cart pod that has indoor seating with air conditioning and heat. You can enjoy a variety of food from the dozens of food carts, most a branch of popular food carts in Portland, and adult beverages from the huge bar that lines the back wall. The Columbia Gore Outlets are right off the exit and while it's a pale shadow of its former self, there is a drive through Starbucks, a Coach outlet, Eddie Bauer, Levi's, Rocky Mountain Chocolate, Lane Bryant, Torrid, Rue21, Jockey, Fashion Footware and several others still in business. And of course, you can and should drive the scenic highway From Troutdale up to Crown Point for sweeping 180 degree views of the Columbia River then back down along the row of 7 waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls. it's a spectacular ride in all seasons. Troutdale is the gateway to the Gorge and also a destination!

As a resident here for 6 years, I'm very pleased with the changes in the downtown area. The variety…read moreand quality of restaurants is improving and although parking is becoming more of a problem, I always can find a spot somewhere. Glen Otto park is a delightful spot in the summer (and next to SugarPine!) and LoLo's pizza is the best! City Hall has been responsive to my questions, and my specific neighborhood (near Kane and Sunrise Park) is safe, with friendly neighbors, and well managed landscaping. Being so close to the hospital, Safeway, and I-84 are also pluses.

This is a quiet space that makes a lovely memorial to the former mayor. The statue sits in the…read moreshade of a nice grove of trees, and to the north, has an unimpeded view of the river and the downtown skyline. There is parking nearby for those wishing to explore the Esplanade on the east side of the river and McCall Park to the west. Multiple bridge crossings to choose from.

The statue of Major Vera Katz sitting on the wall often startles me as I'm walking by because it's…read moreso realistic. Yes, it's bronze and obviously a statue, but in the shadows, I sometimes think it's a real person! In this section of the Eastbank Esplanade, there are several benches and a stone wall to sit and take a rest. There are even water fountains and much needed shade on a sunny day. Beautiful views across the river, right under Hawthorne Bridge. If you enter the Esplanade in this area, park on SE Water. Continue your walk along the Eastbank Esplanade heading north, pass the Morrison and Burnside Bridges, and use the Steal Bridge to cross the river. This will put you on Tom McCall Park And a paved walkway all along the river. Continue to Tilikum Crossing which takes you across the river (stunning views) and back to east side. When you la d on east side, head north walking past OMSI and then back to Vera for a healthy 4.7 mile walk!

Willamette is such a key piece of Oregon history. My first visit was when I was about 8 years old…read more My aunt & uncle lived a couple blocks off of what is now main street. If you drive the side roads you will see beautiful historical homes with the most amazing flower gardens everywhere. It truly has a old school/hippy vibe to it but most of those homes are over a million now. Ha Ha! The little ma and pa places that are left make it wonderful! It feels like it's further away from Portland than it is. A nice escape for a drive or lunch. I commend the zoning/planning dept for keeping the architecture and area looking and feeling like it originally was in the olden days.

"Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky…read moretacky Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes all the same..." [1] When people think of the suburbs, I think many focus on the blandness of sub-developments and master planned communities. But in Oregon, some of our deepest roots lie Southwest of Portland in the communities of Oregon City and West Linn. As a history buff, I enjoy exploring these places and am lucky to live near Old Willamette which is a National Register Historic District. At first glance, you might think the storefronts along Willamette Drive are some developer's idea of turn-of-the-century charm. And you would be partially right. They've actually tried to preserve as much of the original commercial row as they can, and then new development matches the style, but has all the modern conveniences. Between Willamette Drive and the Willamette River is the Old Willamette Neighborhood with many homes from the 19th Century, mostly preserved in all of their glory. You can tour many of these homes in the fall as part of the Willamette Living History tour (http://www.historicwillamette.com/attractions/historic-willamette-events/). They go all out with period costumes, a horse-drawn buggy and volunteers act out little vignettes around town. I recently met the president of the Willamette Falls Historical Society who lives in one of the homes and was a font of local knowledge. She also said that they pick a particular year for the tour, most recently 1908. She has different clothes for different time periods and was very excited that they are going to set one of the future tours around WW2, when women finally have the vote. She has been a suffragette for many a moon since most tours are in the years prior to 1920. Keep that in mind ladies when you vote this week! There are maps available from several local merchants if you want to take the self-guided walking tour. This area is the heart of many of West Linn's annual festivals, including The Old Time Fair which is down the hill in Willamette Park every July. During the summer months, this neighborhood is also home to the West Linn Farmer's Market, which always feels like a street fair, on Wednesday evenings. One of the funniest historical traditions is that you will see old fashioned baseball in Willamette Park several times during the summer. The boys wear the old uniforms and play without gloves, while the ladies are in full dress and ready with a glass of lemonade. That never goes out of style. [1] Made famous by the television show, Weeds. Lyrics by Malina Reynolds.

When I moved to Portland these mills were still very much in use and many people worked there…read more Then they closed and they were sold to the city for a park. T The cities plan was to raze it and build a river front park for the Pearl area. People got upset, called the pace historic and eventually the city agreed. There was a competition to redevelop the site and a company from California won the bid. That plan collapsed with the economy and now a new company headed by Jordan Schnitzer seems to be taking the lead. All this is played out in the news. I really hope they can agree on how to save what can still be saved The buildings make a nice contrast to the new stuff. Besides I want more riverfront to walk on and I here that is part of the plan! The buildings and their towers are cool they have history. I hope they can get it together to save as many as they can. In an area where the old is torn down to make room for modern condos etc it is nice to see old buildings. Some will be lost soon as buildings and wharves are torn down that is a given as the place has deteriorated. Given the current condition it is probably better to get it over with, It attracts sightseers, When I was there last two young men emerged from below the flour mill. Given the state of the buildings that can't be safe.

I'd love a recent photo of the control room, spooky isn't the right word. The allure of the…read morewhispering floors and speckled construction lights reflection in the windows gives this portal a gleem like no other. It's always a beautiful night on the water at centennial mills.

Clackamas River Bridge (1932) OR. I have been over this…read morebridge so many times. I finally got a chance to walk up on it and really take a look. Not a whole lot to look at in regards to today's bridges but in 1933 this bad boy won an award for Most Beautiful Steel Bridge. It has it's charm. For 1932 they really thought about the long haul. The sidewalks are big and safe from traffic. Two lanes in each direction and wide enough to accommodate semi trucks. Nice view of the river. The cement work is pretty cool also.

Bridge road to the road to get a new one from the park park and then I have no parking at park so I…read morecan park on the front door so you dont know what I want to do it is fine too lol